Amusement device



1) 1953' R: MORTON, JR., ETAL AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 4, 1951 QIIIIlIl/IIIIIIIII! y 1953 R. L. MORTON, JR., E'F'AL AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 4, 1951 FIG.7'.Y

FIGS.

Patented May 19, 1953 OFFICE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Robert L. Morton, Jr., Clayton, and Frank W. Bubb, Webster Groves, Mo.

Application April 4, 1951, Serial No. 219,246

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly to swings.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of an amusement device useful in diminutive sizes as a toy swing, and in larger sizes as a swing for exercise as well; the provision of a device of the class described which is capable of a variety of mystifying responses to operation, thereby maintaining a sustained and high degree of interest; and the provision of such a device which is simple to construct and capable of economical quantity production.

Briefly, the toy consists of multiple physical pendulums in the forms of swings having rigid suspension members supporting seats for toy figures (in diminutive sizes) or for persons (in larger sizes), the swings being torsionally coupled for interchange of energy, so that under certain starting conditions their amplitudes will periodically and unexpectedly vary inversely from a condition of substantial rest; or which under other starting conditions will produce a more expected result wherein the amplitudes do not so vary; all of which produces an amusing and mystifying result. The torsional coupling arrangement between the rigidly suspended swings is such as to gain a maximum effect with minimum stresses in the coupling element. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section of certain central supports, being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged isometric View of a bearing clip per se;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of an enlarged form of the invention constituting achilds swing;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section of certain parts of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and, I

masses of solder ll.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken on.

line 99 of Fig. 7.

Similar reference characters indicate corre- The supports 3 and 5 carry bearing clips 1 and .9,

respectively, for supporting a reciprocally driving member constituted by a torsionally resilient wire ll. At numerals l3 and I5 are shown normally coplanar U-shaped swings having suspension legs 2 supporting seats I! and IQ for figures 2| and 23, respectively. Members 2, 3 and 5 may be composed of one of the well-known solid so-called plastics (as indicated) or of wood or the like. The legs are substantially rigid and carry supporting clips 2-5, 21, 29 and 3!, related as shown in Fig. 1. All of the clips I, 9, 25, 21, 29 and 3| are preferably sheet-metal stampings of essentially U-shape, having struck-in staking points 33. Clips 9, 25, 21, 29 and 3| have openings 35 in both sides for free passage therethrough of the torsion wire I I. Clips 1 have openings 37 through only their inner sides for acceptance of the ends of the torsion wire I l. The other imperforate sides act as stops for the wire ends. All of the members 2, 3 and 5 have their upper ends slotted, as shown at 39, for free passage of the torsion wire H.

In assembly, the clips 25, 21, 9, 29 and 3| are first strung on the wire I l and clips 25 and 3! arethen soldered to the wire at proper positions spaced from the wire ends as indicated at 4!. Clips 25, 21, 29 and 3| are then staked to the upper ends of the swing suspension members 2. The end clips I are then applied to the wire and applied to the upper ends of the end supports 3,

' middle clip 9 being applied to the upper end of the middle support 5, all being staked into position.

The resultingassembly is as shown in Fig. 1, wherein the end clips I and middle clip 9 form bearing supports of low friction for the torsion wire ii. The swings l3 and I5 are suspended fromthe torsion wire, being coupled thereto at a maximum distance between couplings, as determined by the spacing between the coupling There are free rotary bearings between the torsion wire H and each of the clips 1, 9, 21 and 29, so that the wire is subjected to twistingaction between the soldered clips 25 and 3|, as determined by any angular relationship between the swings I3 and is other than The resulting interesting dynamic movements of the swings l3 and iii are substantially as follows:

If one of the swings such as 55 is angularly displaced while the other is held against substantial displacement, the torsion wire I will be twisted, since the other swingis being held in a substantially perpendicular Vertical position. Upon simultaneous release of the initially displaced swing and of the perpendicularly held swing, the former will oscillate with a period depending upon its effective length, which will be from the center of the bearing supports f or wire to the center of gravity of the swinging inf cluding the respective figure such as 23 in the case of swing it. The amplitude of the initially displaced swing (id, for example) will at firstbe a maximum, but this amplitude will rapidly de-' cre se t a th nt ca sed, b ri ciainping; whichdamping is small. This is because energy is delivered to the other swing cur" s t r u h e i idsu en n 2 an torsional transmission through wire ll. Thus the otherswing l3 starts to oscillatqwi'thragp dly e e su s a ia a; if. the nergyhas been transferred from swing t to swing [3. This finally brings the amplitude of ng 4 I5 substantially to'sero a substantially v'rtical positionat the time that he am- '1: of swing is has reached a mailma 't'h e'r manipulation ch'n'dit'ion's' be me an o riatically reversed and the energy hasbeen stored up in the action of swing to return to swing l5 through twist in. the wire H; the amplitude" of oscillations of sw ng l5 rapidly immerses to; a m that of swing I? rapidly deeases 'ubstantially to Zero. The inverse action continues indefinite y until gradually aerated tas y friction at 1,11, 9 andlzll, the maximum am pht e for each swing becoming gradually use. new ver, th'eaction' pers'ev'eres for a long period he 'se of the slight amount of friction at said be rd-as essors. I g p v 7 It is to life noted that the w re l'l tests" only on tum-meter at the Holes 35 u 37 m the cups 1, 9," 21' and 29 not upon the wood or plastic materia or members 2', 3 and 5' is these 31 since the slots 39 provide clearance around; I l. since the interchange of energy between th'e' pendulum system's" constituted" by the swings f3 and i5 is rather rapid, the swing from which energy is being abstractdd'ecele'rates rapidly while the other ac elerates rapidly. The result; are alternate suddn sta'rtmg and stopping ostgilllatiohs at or ne'ar the raster suspension F v resting; the usual In'ystification of an b erverbeing due to the opinion that there (5 sort of brakingeilct which is inconiith the continued operation of the de- \{era mngmterva l'. v p

Both swings may also be initially displaced from the perpendicular and, if the displacements lrei of unequal amounts, upon releasethe action lilar to the above, except that each swing alternately comes near but not so close as be fore to a condition of zero amplitude. For ex ample, if one of the swings is initially displaced without holdin the other at zero position; the latter will be automatically initially displaced a small amount, through torsion" in the wire H; or, both swings may be manually pulled out of alignment fromtne vertical to different angles (either in the same or opposite directions) and phase angles from the perpendicular, and there will be no energy transfer between them. Thus it will be seen that under the conditions envisages in this paragraph, each swing acts as a normal swing, swinging with or oppositely to the other and apparently as if it were free of any coupling with the other.

For interesting results the use of a piano wire H" of about .026 inch in diameter and about 5 inches' long between anchors 25' and 3|, with figures 21 and 23 weighing from a fraction to several ounces; and having an'effective p'endu mm length of" approximately 3 inches provide satisfactory results;

It will'be understoodthat other variations in the action maybe introduced by making the figures 2| and 23' of; unequal weights and/or having their centersof gravity at difierent distances from the wire ll. Thus the swing having associated with it the least weight and/c least effestive pendulum length (other things being equal) will attain an amplitude greater than that of the other. It will be understood that the figures 2| and 23 may be made interchangeable in position by providing small posts 43 on their bottoms which may be interchangeably snugly fitted in ppenings .45, in the seats I! and I9.

In View of the above, it will be seen that the device has such a variety of mystifying operat ing characteristics, depending upon how its' action starts, that it provides for long periods of mu em nt t. V .1 Fi s 6-9 .isshewn n. a p on of t i ventionto a larger form constituting a swing for human occupants. This consists of A-sh ape d end supports 44 connected by an overhead rigid supportingbeam 41, preferably in the form of apipe. Clamps or brackets ill spaced at intervals along the beam 47, fixedly support a second shorter rigid beam 5!; also preferably in the form of a pipe ortube. The clamps 49 preventrotation of pipe 5|. Suspended from ball bearing assernblies 53 on the pipe 5| are swings 55 and 51, having substantially rigid suspension men bers 59 for seats I3. The inner races of the bearings 53 are fixed with respect to the pipe and the outer races are fixed with respect to the suspension members 59; Hence Elf}? W S and 5'? are rotary with respect to the fixed pipe 5 I. The, endmost suspension members 5 9 o f the swings Stand 51 carry rigid bosses $1 to which are bolted brackets 63. These brackets include clamps as shown at 65'; for anchoring to the ends ofa reciprocally driving torsionally resilient rod 61 which passes through the fixed pipe 5|. Polygonal portions 89 may be used on the ends of the rod 6'! at the clamps 65; although this is not absolutely necessary, since the clamps may provide a s'uflici'eht' fricimportant factor is that the torsion rod 61 is supported by the clamps and does not carry the gravity loads of the swings,'which are suspended from the fixed pipe 5| by the bearings 53. Weather-sealing glands such as shown at H serve to enclose the ends of the pipe 5|, but these are not to be construed as supporting bearings for the torsion rod 61. These glands may 'be bronze bushings, or any of various forms of glands relatively free from friction,

The operation and action of this form of the invention are similar to that already described in connection with Figs. 1-5, except that in this case the human occupants of the swings supply the primary operating masses. There is a likelihood that these masses will be difierent in the two swings, resulting in the maximum number of the peculiarities of movements above discussed. Itmay be remarked .that in this form of the invention the actions of the swings as felt on the bodies of the occupants provide additional amusement, since the person in the swing from which energy is being abstracted receives a peculiar decelerating sensation having no visibly apparent cause; and the person on the swing which is receiving energy, receives a peculiar accelerating sensation also havingno visibly apparent cause; and these sensations alternate with the periods of energy interchange between the swings.

Exemplary dimensions for a childs swing, al-

' though these are not critical, are swings measuring 6 feet from the center of rotation to the seats and a steel torsion rod of about 8 feet in length between clamps 65 and having a diameter of the order of inch. The pipe 5! may then be of the order of 1 inch inside diameter. A steel pipe 41 of 2 inch diameter will provide suificient rigidity.

The difference between the form of the invention shown in Figs. l-5 and that shown in Figs. 6-9 is that in the former the relatively light load is suspended from the torsion member ll itself; whereas in the latter case the heavier load is suspended and rotary on the fixed pipe 5| which carries direct shear and bending stresses of both tension and compression variety. In this case the torsion rod 51 carries only torsional shear stresses.

In general, the torsional member such as I! or 61, whether wire, rod or bar, should have a relationship between its thickness and length such that for the masses involved with the swings and their efiective pendulum lengths, the torsional member will twist sufliciently to allow for sufficient amplitudes of oscillation of the swings. With such a twist the torsion rod should engender suflicient torque to transfer the energy back and forth between the swings.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. An amusement device comprising a support, coaxial bearings thereon, a freely oscillatory structure supported as a whole by said bearings, said structure comprising a resilient torsional member and pendulous swings having spaced torque-transmitting connections with the torsional member, the space between said torquetransmitting connections being sufficient to allow maximum displacement of said swings without exceeding the elastic limits of said torsional member, the motionof each swing being controlled from the other through torque transmitted by said torsional member, whereby energy exhibited by oscillations of the swings may, as the swings oscillate out of equal displacements, periodically interchange between a part of said structure con taining one swing and a part thereof containing the other swing.

2. Apparatus made according to claim 1, wherein each swing includes two rigid suspension members, all suspension members being in a row, and the inner and adjacent two suspension members of the respective swings being freely rotary around the torsional member, the outer two nonadjacent suspension members of the swings being anchored to the torsional member.

3. An amusement device comprising a freely oscillatory structure composed of initially coplanar pendulous U-shaped swings each of which consists of a seat for a load and spaced rigid suspension members extending upward from the seat and a torsional resilient member lying along the axis of suspension and being anchored only to the outermost suspension members, said swings having no other driving connection between them except said torsional resilient member, and a frame carrying said structure.

4. Apparatus made according to claim 3, wherein is incorporated a stationary tube surrounding the torsional member, a support connecting with the tube, said swings having rotary bearings on the stationary tube, and means on the swings connecting with and supporting the torsional member within the tube.

5. Apparatus made according to claim 4, wherein the support for the tube is constituted by a stationary beam located above the tube, and downwardly extending brackets connecting the beam and the tube and supporting the latter from the former.

6. A swing comprising A-shaped end supports, a beam connecting the apexes of said supports, a pipe below said beam .and rigidly connected therewith, the ends of said pipe lying between said supports, U-shaped swings each having rigid suspension members, rotary bearings between the upper ends of said suspension members and said pipe, an elongate torsion member extending through said pipe and from its ends, and anchoring means respectively connecting the outer ends of the torsion member with the outer suspension members.

7. A swing comprising A-shaped end supports, a first pipe connecting the apexes of said supports, a second pipe below said first pipe, clamps rigidly connecting said pipes, the ends of said second pipe lying between the supports, U-shaped swings having rigid suspension members, rotary bearings between the upper ends of said suspension members and said second pipe, an elongate torsion rod extending through said second pipe and from its ends, and anchoring clamps respec- *tively connecting the outer ends of the torsion rod with the outer suspension members.

8. Apparatus made according to claim 3, wherein said torsional member is constituted by a wire which forms a support for said suspension members, the innermost suspension members being freely rotary with respect to the wire, and inner and outer supports adjacent the suspension members permitting free rotary movement of the wire and supporting it.

mesa-ea 9'. Apparatus" made according to claim- BaWhere mthe outermostsupports respectively carry stops for endwise engagement of the respective ends of the wire.

10. An amusement device comprisinga sup= porthavingthree ncnmeta-llic spacedupright member's slotted at their upper ends; U-s'hapedswings having rig-id nonmetallic suspension members also slotted at their upper ends;- all of the slots being coaxial; U-shaped sheet-metal clips having side legs staked to the slotted ends of the upright and suspension members and enclosing theirslots, the inner walls of the clips on the'outer uprightmembers having openings and all of the Walls ofthe remaining clips-having openings smaller than said slots, all openings being collinear, and atorsionwirethreadingthe openings and having an' anchored connection with one of the clips assmsiamed with each swing.

l1. Apparatus made according toclaim 10, wherein the cli-pshaving theanchcring: connections are on theoutermost suspension members of the swings.

ROBERT L.- MORTON, JR. FRANK W. BUBB.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name" Date 1,687,408 Watkins Oct. 9, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number" Country Date A 3,164 GreafiBritain 1885 598,458 Great Britain- Feb. 18', 1948 

